The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-02-16

about sixty miles from the entrance
of the river l had determined to try -
new method ofgetting through the block
aiding squadron, seeing that the usual
plan, as described above, was no longer
feasible, or, at least, advisable. | have
mentioned that our position was well
defined by observations and sound
ings, so we determined to run straight
through the blockaders and to take our
chance. When it was quite dark we
started, steaming at full speed. 1t was
extremely thick on the horizon, but
clear overhead, with just enough wind
and sea to prevent the little noise the
engines and screws made being heard.
Every light was out-even the mems
pipes; the masts were lowered on to the
deck, and if ever vessel was invisible
the Oh was that night. We passed
several outlying cruisers, some UNI
pleasantly near-but still we passed
them. All seemed going favorably,
when suddenly l saw through my
glasses the long, low line of steamer
right ahead, lying as it were across our
bows so close that it would have been
impossible to pass to the right or left of
her without being seen. A prompt or
der given to the engine-room (where
the chief engineer stood to the engines)
to reverse one engine was as promptly
obeyed, and the little craft spun around
like teetotum. If had not seen it l
could never have believed it possible
that vessel would have turned so rap
idly, and although, perhaps, it is
irrelevant to my subiecD l cannot re-
frain from bearing testimany to the
wonderful powers of turning that are
given to vessel by the application of
Symond's turnscrews, as he loves to
call them. On this occasion ESQ, 900 of
property was saved to its owners. !
do not believe the cruiser saw us at all, ,
and so very important to us was the
fact that we had turned in so short a
space that l scarcely think we lost five
yards of our position. Having turned,
we stopped to reconnoiter, and could
still see the faint outline of the cruiser
crawling propelled probably, only by
the wind) slowly into The darkness,
leaving the way open to us, of which
we at once took advantage. 1t was
now about one O'Clock in the morning
our lead and an observation of a
friendly star told us that we were rap
idly nearing the shore. But it was so
fearfully dark that it seemed almost
hopeless ever to find our way to the
entrance of the river, and no one felt
comfortable. Still we steamed slowly
on, and shortly made out small glimmer
of light right ahead. We ceased steam
a little and cautiously approached. As
we got nearer we could make out the
outline of vessel lying at anchor.
head to the wind, and onjectured that
this must be the senior officers vessel
which we were told lay about two miles
and half from the rivers mouth, and
which was obliged to show some sort of
light to the cruisers that were con-
stantly under way to the right and left
of her. The plan of finding out his
light, and using it as guide to the
rivers entrance, being shortly after
this time discovered, the vessel that
carried it was moved into different
position every night, whereby several
blOckade-runners came to grief. Feel
ing pretty confident now of our position
we went on again at full speed, and
made out clearly the line of blockaders
lying to the right and left of the ship
which showed the light, all excepting
her being apparently under way. See
ing an opening between the vessel at
anchor and the one on her left, we
made dash and, thanks to our dis
guise and great speed, got through
without being seen and made the most
of our way toward the land. AS a
strong current runs close inshore which
is constantly changing its course, and
there were no lights or landmarks to
guide us, it was matter of great diff
Guilty to find the very narrow entrance
to the river We were nearly out of
danger from cruisers, who seldom ven
tured very close inshore in the vicinity
of the batteries, and our pilot, who had
been throughout the voyage in bodily
fear of an American prison, began to
wake up, and, after looking well round
told us that he could make out, over
the long line of surf, heap of sand
called " the mound" which was a mark
for going into the river. This good
news emboldened us to show small
light from the inshore side of the yes.
sci; it was promptly answered by two
lights being placed short distance
apart on the beach, in such position
that when the two were brought into
line, or, as we sailors call it, into one
the vessel would be in the channe
which led into the river. This being
done without interruption from the
cruisers, we steamed in and anchored
safely under the batteries of For
Fisher.-From admiral Hobart Pasha''